The cut represents an 11 percent reduction from last year’s funding for the preparedness program, bringing total FY 2011 funding to $352.6 million. The cut was equally applied across all states, territories and cities under HPP, according to the news report.
HHS established HPP in 2002 as the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program to enhance hospitals’ ability to respond to a biological attack. The program has since evolved to support preparedness for all hazards.
Roslyne Schulman, a director of AHA policy development, said that in the face of ongoing hazards including man-made and natural disasters, maintaining adequate funding for the program is critical. “Instituting such a severe cut will undercut the progress that has been made in hospital preparedness and, as a result, could affect the ability of hospitals to respond to the multiple threats facing their communities,” Ms. Schulman said.
Read the news report about cuts from the Hospital Preparedness Program.
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HHS: Majority of Hospitals Meet All-Hazards Preparedness Measures
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